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people from all parts of the Sagebrush State turned out to see him -- the Governor and his staff, Indians from several tribes, cowboys, miners and old settlers who could not believe their eyes, and Ely was really at his best. On the entire tour he had done fine work and created a tremendous amount of interest in aviation which reportedly resulted in selling several Curtiss planes. 
After completing this assignment in July, Ely went East and on August 5th was one of three contestants in the New York to Philadelphia $5,000 race sponored by the Curtiss Exhibition Company and Gimbel Brothers Stores. Beachey, Robinson and Hamilton were scheduled for the event, but a few days before the race Hamilton withdrew and Ely took his place. The prize was for the fastest flight between Ginbel's New York and Philadelphia Stores. The aviators took off from Governor's Island and flew up the East River to 33rd Street, then across Manhattan, passing over the New York Gimbel Store, the official starting point. Beachey started first, Ely second and Robinson last. Ely was forced down at New Brunswick, New Jersey, with a clogged fuel line and Beachey won the race.
August 12th and 20th Ely was a contestant in the famed 1911 Chicago Meet at Grant Park. There he was very active, spending a lot of time in the air, entering all the major events and making a fine showing. August 25th and 26th he flew at Kenosha, Wisconsin, then went to the Boston-Harvard Meet, where he was an active contestant through September 4th. There he flew with Grahame-White, Tom Sopwith, Atwood, Beatty, Gill and Ovington. September 8th to 10th Ely flew in a meet at Brighton Beach, near Coney Island, Long Island, New York, with Grahame-White, Tom Sopwith, Atwood and Beatty. September 26th and 28th he flew at the Stark County Fair, Canton, Ohio, then went to the Nassau Boulevard Meet on Long Island, New York, through October 2nd. There he did very well again and all throughout these 1911 fall events Ely carried passengers where ever he went.
Following this Ely worked southward and on October 19th, while flying his second flight ay Macon, Georgia, he crashed and suffered fatal injuries. The accident was said to have been caused by his removal of the front elevator so

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